[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 28 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              PLANET MARS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN COOKSEY

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 13, 2002

  Mr. COOKSEY. Mr. Speaker, We are better prepared to go to the planet 
Mars today than to the Moon in 1961. The reasons to go are compelling 
and the goal is within reach.
  Like the Moon Race, exploring Mars will have benefits here on Earth, 
revitalizing our economy and society like no other challenge. America's 
wealth today testifies to space exploration's past return-on-investment 
in communications, computers, and advanced materials. Mars exploration 
will bring to all of us a positive and dynamic vision of the future--a 
goal to achieve, a dream to make real.
  As the planet most like Earth, Mars should be the next focus of space 
exploration. We have sent many robots to explore Mars for us, but their 
abilities are limited. It's time to go there ourselves.
  We have the means to explore and settle Mars in the near-term on only 
a fraction of NASA's current budget, but work is needed to refine key 
technologies like space suits and life support systems. The targeted 
investment of a modest 1% of NASA's annual budget can achieve these 
advances. Adequate funds would remain for NASA's other priorities 
today, while we prepare for the day in the very near future when 
Americans again walk on another world.
  The time to plan our next giant leap is now. It's our future, let's 
make it happen.

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